Comparisons (updated)

Xbox One - November, for $499

• Offline gaming is available for up to 24 hours, and one hour on a different console. You then need to be online to "check-in", for DRM reasons. Also, auto-updates. (here)
• You can share your game with only one friend, possibly playable concurrently. Publisher enabling required. *
• Publishers decide if trade-ins are allowed, only at participating retailers.*
• You can share a library with "ten members of family". Possibly exploitable by registering as family with another friend and sharing cost of games. If so, you would probably get to play the same game on another Xbox concurrently.*
• If the game is installed on the console, it is free to play, possibly until the authentication "check-in". *
• Your "key" to a game is saved online, and you can re-download the game whenever. *
• The Kinect is mandatory. (here)
• According to wording, you may pause the Kinect when Xbox One is on. The "Xbox On" turn on feature can be turned off. **   [privacy concerns - I cannot say if the Kinect hardware itself can be turned off, or just a "soft" off. Microsoft reserves the right to share your information, when the situation calls for it, according to this. The whole PRISM programme is just so ambiguous. Obama getting sued? Damn.]
• Your Xbox is always on and always connected to the internet. ***
• Apparently, Microsoft's presented keypoint is about the Xbox's ability to play MMORPGs. ***
• The Xbox has two wireless antennas, which, according to a mech. engineering student, does not mean better coverage or what-not. If 802.11n is multi-input/output, why do we need two? ***
• There are allegedly more than 300,000 Xbox Live and Windows Azure servers. There is no confirmation as to them being virtual servers or not. ***
• The Xbox One is allegedly going to be region-locked (here).
• The UI for the Xbox allows for users to switch between what they're doing.
• Like the old Xbox, you need to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold for online multiplayer games. The subscription can be shared with your family.
• The HDD is fixed at 500GB.

* read it here
** read it here
*** read it here



PS4 - this holiday season, for $399

• The PS4 is not region-locked. (here)
• The PS4 will not have restrictions on the use of games, or online requirements for offline games, or regular "check-ins". (video, text)
• The PS4 requires you to have PS Plus to play multiplayer online.
• The PS4's UI allows users to switch between what they're doing. Players can also download a portion of the game first to begin playing. The PS4 is also purportedly always on and always connected, allowing users to access their game library and begin downloads even when away from the console. (here)
• HDD can be upgraded by users (here)

The only reason why there are more points for the Xbone is because of the multiple restrictions and problems that I needed to address. All those problems are slapped away by the PS4's second point.

As for hardware, I am no expert but the numbers suggest that the PS4 is ahead of Xbone. The Xbone isn't even fully utilising the 8GB for your games. Eh. 

Exclusives in the Xbone look good, but I reckon it's not worth splurging $499 just to get those games. Honestly, just... PS4 all the way people.

Think about how Sony's press conference is compared to Microsoft's. The emphasis on games is clearly given by Sony, whereas Microsoft is just... dawdling. "But... Sony's presentation had hiccups, the console's broken." Remember Battlefield 4? Xbone's console messed up their audio. What then? Killzone ran fine on the PS4 during the reveal conference. The Division gameplay showcase? Obviously the games in question are still in its alpha/beta stages. To infer that these are signs of console problems is too far a stretch.

In any case, hope all this info helps. I hope you would not support the Xbone mainly because, well, a 'vote' for Xbone is a vote for anti-consumerism.

(updated)

• Sony will allow 3rd-party publishers to enforce DRM ONLY on online used games, like current online passes. (here)